The next generation of PlayStation is on its way, and it’s on a fairly standard track. While details of the PS5 have trickled out over time, we have one of the biggest reveals yet: a release date.
Now, we know the newest Sony console, which is still in the works, will be arriving “Holiday 2020.” We don’t know exactly when this will be — early November? Late? Near Christmas? — but if this holds up, the PS5 will be here before we know it.
It’s pretty typical for consoles to arrive during the holiday season, as parents and loved ones are more apt to buy these as gifts. (Unless it’s the Switch, which was just generally sold out all year despite a March release because it’s such a damn good console.)
In addition to the release date, Sony took up an exclusive demo and interview with Wired, which discusses the features of the upcoming console more.
In the thick of gaming, “ray-tracing” has been a hot topic. Basically, it’s a special rendering technique that traces rays of light (hence the name) and forms the pixels along the way. For those eager to give it a try on their home consoles, the PS5 will lean into that compatibility. The developers confirmed that the hardware will be up to speed in ray-tracing support.
The developers also began to unveil the features of the next generation of controllers. They stayed tight-lipped on some future features, but the Wired reporter noted a small microphone-like hole in the microphone. Sony has officially discussed the “adaptive triggers,” which can create levels of resistance to push (or pull) against.
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There’s also more tight haptic feedback, with voice-coil actuators — the mechanical difference versus traditional vibrators, for those wondering, is more range of motion and more tight control. Reporters noted the more intricate and precise vibrations on the controllers when playing different demos. Apparently, haptic feedback was in development since before the last development. However, they didn’t want to split up the controllers, and instead opted for next-gen inclusion.
For gamers eager to hear about the lineup of games coming, it sounds like we already have a big one coming. Marco Thrush, president of Bluepoint Games, was present at the demos. explicitly said they have “a big one right now” in the works. They’re best known for remastering (or “remaking,” really) Shadow of the Colossus, and it sounds like they’re doing a “re-envisioning” for their next project. (Demon Souls!?)
What We Know Already
On top of these, we already have other details of the PS5 from previous events. There’s going to be backwards compatibility, with “cross-generational” save. There’s going to be 8K support (yes, there’s higher than 4k) and the return of Remote Play and PlayStation Now.
Probably the part I’m personally most excited for is the addition of a solid state drive (SSD). The Wired piece talks about the advantages of an SSD in the console: developers don’t need to duplicate assets, data doesn’t need to be installed all at once, and, of course, quicker loading times. Developers literally describe the process of partial installation, given the speed of SSD can provide near-seamless experiences as such. You can have only the single-player campaign loaded, or only the multiplayer maps at once, and then instantly re-load it onto the console.
Personally, as someone who has an SSD in her computer, it’s a matter of, “once you get one, you’ll never go back.” Processing times are incredibly and unbelievably quick with an SSD. Computers boot in literal seconds, and software installs in less.
Of course, we don’t know exactly how much it’ll cost. But we’re sure with it being a new generation and all — and inflation kicking all our butts — it’ll fetch for a pretty penny.
